It’s nearly refreshing to read a fantasy book that is just so purely brutal and raw. But refreshing is most definitely the wrong description.

Because the answer could not be rational. It was not founded in military strategy. It was not because of a shortage of food rations, or because of the risk of insurgency or backlash. It was, simply, what happened when one race decided that the other was insignificant.

Slow claps for R.F Kuang for yet again blowing my mind, and there’s so much more to come, and from what I have heard it only gets better. I imagine after reading the next books that this might alter in my mind to five stars. There isn’t any fluff, unbelievable strategy, realistic war time lines, cruel realities, great battle and fights, wonderful lore, and fundamentally the friendships, comrades and even enemies are so well developed.

Her eyes were like shattered glass.